PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – Head coach Claudia Stabile recorded her 800th career victory with the Setters Thursday, April 13, as the Pace University softball team swept a doubleheader against St. Thomas Aquinas College. The Setters won 2-1 in the early game, then took a 5-2 decision in game two.
Game One: Pace 2, St. Thomas Aquinas 1
The Spartans (16-11) took the early lead, getting a run across following a Pace (18-14, 8-4 NE10) error. The Setters got it back in the bottom of the inning, however, as some heads up baserunning by freshman shortstop Kaylee Matsuda (Kaneohe, Hawaii/Iolani School) tied the score after she tagged up from second on a flyout to deep centerfield and came around to score.
The Setters got the first two runners on in the second following a walk and single by sophomore first baseman Brianna Shea (Oceanside, Calif./El Camino), and a sac bunt moved both runners into scoring position with one out. But the next two batters were retired, as Pace left two stranded in the inning.
After STAC got the leadoff runner on in the third, Pace was able to turn a double play, getting out of the inning with the game still tied.
The Setters again got two runners on in the fourth after a walk and hit by pitch, but again couldn't get the go-ahead run across as the game went to the fifth tied at one.
The Spartans were in position to take the lead in the fifth, getting runners to the corners with one out. A foul out down the left field line had the runner on third tagging up, but freshman outfielder Raelle Gorman (Temecula, Calif./Temecula Valley) threw a strike to the plate for a double play to end the inning.
Gorman then got Pace started in the bottom of the fifth with an infield single, and the Setters got her over to third with one out. But STAC was able to work out of trouble once more, keeping it a 1-1 game heading to the sixth.
The visitors started off the sixth with a walk and sac bunt, getting a runner in scoring position with one out. Sophomore pitcher Gisselle Garcia (Lemon Grove, Calif./Mater Dei Catholic) then set the next two Spartan batters down as the pitchers' duel continued into the bottom of the sixth.
In the bottom of the seventh with the game still tied, senior outfielder Gwen Pederson (Sylmar, Calif./Granada Hills Charter) led off with a single, and a bunt moved her over to second. Matsuda followed up with a single to left, putting runners on the corners with the winning run at third. With freshman second baseman Sophie Valle (Chino, Calif./Walnut) at the plate, a wild pitch brought Pederson home with the winning run as Pace walked it off with a 2-1 victory.
Garcia got the win, pitching all seven innings while allowing no earned runs on five hits and striking out three.
Game Two: Pace 5, St. Thomas Aquinas 2
After the Spartans went down in order in the first, a pair of one-out singles gave Pace a chance to take the early lead. A lineout and strikeout followed, leaving the game scoreless after one.
Junior pitcher Anna Acevedo (Brooklyn, N.Y./Fontbonne Hall Academy) continued to roll in the second, working around a walk and not allowing a hit over the first 2.2 innings. The first hit she surrendered put runners on the corners with two out in the third, but she was able to work out of trouble, keeping it a 0-0 game.
A leadoff walk and sac bunt put a runner in scoring position for the Setters in the last of the third, but STAC's Carissa Della Vecchia retired the next two Pace batters to send things to the fourth still tied.
The visitors got started with a leadoff double by Eliana Raposo in the fourth, and Tara Hagan followed up with a double of her own to drive in the first run of game two as the Spartans took a 1-0 lead.
The Setters came back with three runs in the bottom of the fourth, going ahead for the first time in the game. Following a walk and single, Shea connected on an RBI single to tie the game at 1-1. Gorman followed it up with a run-scoring single to left to give Pace the lead. Another heads-up baserunning play by the home team put a third run on the board, as Shea stole home after the RBI hit to make it a 3-1 game.
Acevedo rebounded with a strong inning in the fifth, putting the Spartans down in order. She ran into trouble in the sixth, as a two-out double and pair of walks had STAC threatening. An error brought a run in, making it a 3-2 game. However, Acevedo picked up a key strikeout, stranding three runners as Pace held on to its one-run lead.
Shea led off the bottom of the sixth with a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch as the Setters looked to extend their lead. A base hit and stolen base by Gorman put runners on second and third with nobody out, and senior outfielder Arianna Guarracino (Middletown, N.Y./Minisink Valley) connected on a sacrifice fly to make it a two-run game once again.
Pace added one more in the sixth, as with two out and a runner on second, junior infielder Sammi Swenson (Smithtown, N.Y./Smithtown East) singled down the left field line to score Gorman and extend the lead to 5-2.
Acevedo finished things off in the ninth, getting three straight outs following a leadoff single to preserve the 5-2 victory.
In game two, Gorman, Shea and Swenson each had two hits and one RBI, with Shea adding two runs scored. Acevedo pitched a complete game, allowing one earned run on five hits and picked up six strikeouts.
Up Next
Pace returns to NE10 play Saturday, April 15, when they travel to Rindge, N.H. for a doubleheader at Franklin Pierce University. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m.
